As a traveler, I love discovering little off-the-beaten path gems that feel like the real and authentic country that I’m traveling through. I know there are very few, if any, places left in the world that haven’t been altered in someway by globalization and international travel and I’m not the one to say whether that is good or bad, right or wrong. But I do know but there are still many places out there that have maintained their integrity despite temptation from the outside world and it’s these places I try to seek out when I’m traveling. Jardín is one of those places. Yes, motobikes race through the streets and candy wrappers are scattered on along the sidewalk. But cowboys also prance their prize horses through town, friends enjoy a cup of tinto (black coffee) or a cerveza together in the plaza as evening closes in, and the older generation can be seen in traditional dress. It’s a town that has blended both modern amenities and traditional customs while still making outsiders feel welcome.